PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Ghandi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ghandi
vs
Silva

180 cm
19
135 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

168 cm
22
143 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Ghandi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rich Silva!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ghandi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.

Ghandi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ghandi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ghandi tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Ghandi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ghandi is pushing down on Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Ghandi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Silva is trying to control but can't.
Ghandi is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.
Ghandi prevents Silva from improving his position.
Silva has a hand on Ghandi's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Ghandi takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Silva slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ghandi tries to stand but can't do so whilst Silva controls his leg.

Ghandi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Silva is trying to control but can't.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Ghandi is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.
Ghandi prevents Silva from standing back up.
Ghandi thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ghandi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ghandi fails with the takedown.
Ghandi is breathing heavily.
Ghandi shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Ghandi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Silva throws the kick towards the body but Ghandi avoids it.
Silva misses with a takedown

and Ghandi counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.
Ghandi postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Ghandi from controlling successfully.
Silva doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Silva controls Ghandi momentarily but Ghandi frees himself.
Silva is pulling down on Ghandi's head. It's preventing any offense from Ghandi, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ghandi has gone for a leg lock! Silva slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ghandi's guard.

Ghandi has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Silva is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ghandi.
Ghandi tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Silva presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Ghandi is trying to reverse the position but instead Silva has taken his back - oops!
Silva is riding his opponent, not letting Ghandi buck him off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghandi rolls, trying to escape but Silva keeps control of the position.
Silva cracks Ghandi with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Ghandi from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Ghandi covers up after that shot from Silva.
Silva doesn't have the hooks in and Ghandi manages to turn into his guard.
Silva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ghandi!
Ghandi swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Silva stands up from mount. Strange move.

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Silva showed some decent athleticism there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rich Silva will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ghandi circles away.
Silva darts in trying to clinch

and Ghandi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ghandi.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Ghandi won't allow it.
Silva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ghandi smiles and moves away.
Silva shoots and misses

and Ghandi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Matt Ghandi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Silva.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ghandi works his way into full mount!
Ghandi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ghandi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.

Ghandi has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Silva is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matt Ghandi!